Centrifugal fan and fan frame thereof

ABSTRACT

A fan frame includes a first housing and a second housing. The first housing has at least one first inlet, and the second housing has at least one second inlet. The combination of the first housing and the second housing forms two independent airflow passages, at least one first outlet and at least one second outlet. A centrifugal fan including the fan frame is also disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a centrifugal fan, and more particularly to a centrifugal fan with multiple outlets.

2. Related Art

As electronic products increase in performance, operating frequencies, speed and compactness, their working temperature also increases to reduce their reliability. This is why most of the existing electronic devices use fans to dissipate heat.

As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional centrifugal fan 1 includes a fan frame 11, an impeller 12 and a motor (not shown). The fan frame 11 has a single inlet 111 and a single outlet 112. The impeller 12 is disposed in the fan frame 11 and has a hub 121 and a plurality of blades 122. The motor is disposed in and connected to the hub 121 for driving the impeller 12 to rotate. As the impeller 12 rotates, airflow enters via the inlet 111, gets pushed by the blades 122, and leaves via the outlet 112.

Since the conventional centrifugal fan functions by utilizing the centrifugal force, it has a larger air pressure and smaller airflow in comparison with the axial-flow fan. To increase heat dissipation efficiency, it has been recommended to have two inlets in the prior art to enlarge the air supplying cross section and thus increase the airflow. However, the air: supplying conditions on both sides are different in practicality, and there is only a single outlet. So that the airflows entering from the inlets interfere with each other, and the heat dissipation effect of the fan is affected. For example, if the environmental temperature of one inlet is 30° C. and that of the other inlet is 40° C., the airflows in the passage are mixed with each other. When the airflow leaves via the outlet 112, the temperature of the airflow will be higher than 35° C. (between 30° C. and 40° C.) for reducing the heat dissipation effect of the fan.

It is thus imperative to provide a centrifugal fan and a fan frame thereof to increase the incoming airflow rates and enhance the fan effect.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, the present invention provides a centrifugal fan and a fan frame thereof to increase the incoming airflow rates and outgoing airflow directions, thereby enhancing the efficiency and applicable flexibility of the fan.

To achieve the above, a fan frame according to the present invention includes a first housing and a second housing. The first housing has at least one first inlet, and the second housing has at least one second inlet. The combination of the first housing and the second housing forms two independent airflow passages, at least one first outlet and at least one second outlet.

To achieve the above, a centrifugal fan according to the present invention includes a fan frame and an impeller. The fan frame has a first housing and a second housing. The first housing has at least one first inlet, and the second housing has at least one second inlet. The combination of the first housing and the second housing forms two independent airflow passages, at least one first outlet and at least one second outlet. The impeller is disposed in the fan frame and comprises at least one hub, at least one first blade and at least one second blade. The first blade and the second blade respectively correspond to the two independent airflow passages.

As mentioned above, a centrifugal fan and a fan frame thereof according to the present invention have two independent airflow passages. Therefore, the airflows can be increased to enhance the efficiency of the fan. In addition, the two independent airflow passages can be adjusted to have applicable flexibility for example different airflow rates and directions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below illustration only, and thus is not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional diagram of a conventional centrifugal fan;

FIG. 2 is an exploded diagram of a centrifugal fan according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional diagram of the centrifugal fan in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded diagram of another centrifugal fan according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional diagram of the centrifugal fan in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same references relate to the same elements.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a centrifugal fan 2 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a fan frame 21, at least one impeller 22 and a motor 23. The fan frame 21 includes two housings 211, 212 and a separation part 213. The motor 23 is disposed on the housings 211, 212 or the separation part 213. In this embodiment, the motor 23 for example but not limited to be is disposed on the housing 212.

The housing 211 has an inlet 2111, and the housing 212 has an inlet 2124. The separation part 213 is disposed between the housing 211 and the housing 212, and respectively connected to the housings 211, 212 to form two independent airflow passages and two outlets 2112, 2125. The separation part 213 and the housings 211, 212 can be independently formed. The separation part 213 can also be integrally formed with the housing 211 or the housing 212 as a single piece. The separation part 213 for example is an enclosing board or a board with an enclosing wall.

The housing 212 further has a base 2121 and a bushing 2122. The base 2121 is connected to the bushing 2122 via at least one connecting part 2123 to form the inlet 2124. The connecting part 2123 can be a rib, an air-guiding plate or a stationary blade. In addition, the bushing 2122 can be formed on the separation part 213 if necessary. In this case, the base 2121 is formed with the inlet 2124 only.

The impeller 22 is disposed in the fan frame 21 and includes a hub 221, at least one separation board 222 and at least one blade 223, 224. The blades 223, 224 are disposed along different axial directions, and respectively correspond to the two independent airflow passages. The separation board 222 is connected with the hub 221 and disposed between the two independent airflow passages. The blades 223, 224 are disposed around two opposite surfaces of the separation board 222. The blades 223, 224, the separation board 222 and the hub 221 can be independently formed or integrally formed as a single piece. The sides of the blades 223, 224 that are farther away from the hub 221 can recede from, protrude from or be substantially flush with the outer rim of the separation board 222. The separation board 222 is corresponding to the separation part 213 of the fan frame 21 so that the separation part 213 is located between the blades 223, 224. The blades 223, 224 are respectively used for different airflow passages. The blades 223, 224 can be front-tilt blades, back-tilt blades, flat blades or their combinations. The blades 223, 224 can be disposed in symmetric or asymmetric. For example, the shape, quantity, pitch or tilt angle of the blades 223, 224 can be the same or different.

The motor 23 is connected to the bushing 2122, and connects and drives the impeller 22 to rotate. The blades 223, 224, the inlets 2111, 2124 and the outlets 2112, 2125 respectively belong to different airflow passages. When the motor 23 drives the impeller 22 to rotate, the airflow entering the inlet 2111 is driven by the blade 223 and leaves via the outlet 2112, and the airflow entering the inlet 2124 is driven by the blade 224 and leaves via the outlet 2125. Since the two airflows travel in different passages, they do not interfere with each other.

In addition, the outgoing airflow directions of the outlets 2112, 2125 can be the same (as shown in FIG. 5) or different by adjusting the assembling positions or shapes of the housings 211, 212 and the separation part 213. For example, they can be perpendicular, parallel, anti-parallel to each other (as shown in FIG. 3) or subtend an angle in between. Therefore, the centrifugal fan 2 can dissipate heat generated from various objects according to practical needs.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, another centrifugal fan 3 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a fan frame 31, an impeller 32 and a motor 23. The fan frame 31 includes two housings 311, 312 and a separation part 313. The housing 311 has an inlet 3111 and an outlet 3112. The housing 312 is connected to the housing 311 and has an outlet 3125, a base 3121 and a bushing 3122. The base 3121 is connected to the bushing 3122 via a plurality of connecting parts 3123, and has at least one inlet 3124. The connecting parts 3123 can be ribs, air-guiding plates or stationary blades.

The impeller 32 is disposed between the two housings 311, 312, and includes a hub 321, two separation boards 322, 323 and a plurality of blades 324, 325. The separation boards 322, 323 are connected to the hub 321 with a gap in between. The blades 324, 325 are respectively disposed on the two surfaces, which are far from each other, of the separation boards 322, 323. The blades 324, 325, the separation boards 322, 323 and the hub 321 can be independently or integrally formed as a single piece. In addition, the blades 324, 325 can be disposed along different axial directions or the same axial direction.

The separation part 313 is disposed between the separation boards 322, 323, and connected to the housing 311 and/or the housing 312. The motor 23 is connected to the bushing 3122, and connects and drives the impeller 32 to rotate. Therefore, two independent airflow passages are formed without any interference between them when the motor 23 operates.

The outgoing airflow directions of the outlets 3112, 3125 can be the same or different by adjusting the assembling positions or shapes of the housings 311, 312 and the separation part 313. For example, the outgoing airflow directions can be perpendicular, parallel, anti-parallel to each other or subtend an angle in between. In this embodiment, the bushing 3122 can also be formed on the separation part 313 to increase the incoming airflow and thus enhance heat dissipation effect of the fan 3.

In summary, a centrifugal fan and a fan frame thereof according to the present invention have two independent airflow passages. Therefore, the airflows can be increased to enhance the efficiency of the fan. In addition, the two independent airflow passages can be adjusted to have applicable flexibility for example different airflow rates and directions.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover all modifications that fall within the true scope of the present invention. 

1. A fan, comprising: a fan frame having a first housing and a second housing, wherein the first housing has at least one first inlet, the second housing has at least one second inlet, and the combination of the first housing and the second housing forms two independent airflow passages, at least one first outlet and at least one second outlet; and an impeller disposed in the fan frame and comprising at least one hub, at least one first blade and at least one second blade, wherein the first blade and the second blade respectively correspond to the two independent airflow passages.
 2. The fan according to claim 1, further comprising a separation part disposed between the first housing and the second housing to form the independent airflow passages, the first outlet and the second outlet.
 3. The fan according to claim 2, wherein the separation part and the first housing or the separation part and the second housing are integrally formed as a single piece.
 4. The fan according to claim 2, wherein the separation part, the first housing and the second housing are independently formed.
 5. The fan according to claim 2, wherein the separation part is an enclosing board or a board with an enclosing wall.
 6. The fan according to claim 2, further comprising a motor connecting and driving the impeller, wherein the motor is disposed on the first housing, the second housing or the separation part.
 7. The fan according to claim 1, further comprising a motor connecting and driving the impeller, wherein the motor is disposed on the first housing or the second housing.
 8. The fan according to claim 1, wherein the second housing has a base with the second inlet, a bushing and at least one connecting part connected with the base and the bushing.
 9. The fan according to claim 8, wherein the connecting part is a rib, an air-guiding plate or a stationary blade.
 10. The fan according to claim 1, wherein the airflow directions or rates of the independent airflow passages are the same or different.
 11. The fan according to claim 1, wherein the hub, the first blade and the second blade are independently formed or integrally formed as a single piece.
 12. The fan according to claim 1, wherein the impeller further comprises at least one separation board connected to the hub, the first blade and the second blade, and disposed between the two independent airflow passages.
 13. The fan according to claim 12, wherein the separation board, the hub, the first blade and the second blade are independently formed or integrally formed as a single piece.
 14. The fan according to claim 1, wherein the impeller further comprises a first separation board and a second separation board, wherein the first separation board connects to the hub and the first blade, the second separation board connects to the hub and the second blade, and the first separation board and the second separation board are disposed between the two independent airflow passages.
 15. The fan according to claim 14, wherein the first separation board, the second separation board, the hub, the first blade and the second blade are independently formed or integrally formed as a single piece.
 16. The fan according to claim 14, wherein a gap exists between the first separation board and the second separation board.
 17. The fan according to claim 14, further comprising a separation part disposed between the first separation board and the second separation board, wherein the separation part is connected to the first housing and the second housing.
 18. The fan according to claim 1, wherein the shape, quantity, pitch or tilt angle of the first blade and the second blade are the same or different.
 19. The fan according to claim 1, wherein the airflow directions of the independent airflow passages are perpendicular, parallel, anti-parallel to each other or subtend an angle.
 20. A fan frame of a fan, comprising: a first housing having at least one first inlet; and a second housing having at least one second inlet, wherein the combination of the first housing and the second housing forms two independent airflow passages, at least one first outlet and at least one second outlet. 